Pumping mechanism



July 30, 1940. c. o. THOMAS PUMPING MECHANISM s Sheet-Sheet 1' Filed Dae. 19, 1938 July 30, 1940. c. o. THOMAS 2,209,617

PUMPING MECHANI SM Filed Dec. 19, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 3nve ntor 8gWm Wm Gttorneg y 1940- c. 0. THOMAS 2.209,6l7

' PUMPING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 19, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented July30, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PUMPING MECHANISM Clyde 0. Thomas, Kansas City, Mo. Application December19, 1938, Serial No. 246,656

4 Claims.

as water or oil, and in which a float actuated lever is employed forcontrolling the admission of fluid, as air, under compression, forforcing the liquid, which enters the cylinder or float chamber, upwardlyand outwardly from the well.

One of the objects of my invention is the provision of novel means forpreventing the accidental moving of the controlling lever from theposition to which it has been moved.

Another object of my invention is the provision of novel means by whichthe float in lowering swings the lever to a position in which it willpermit the discharge of the pressure fluid from the float chamber, so asto enable the liquid to be pumped to enter the float chamber by gravity.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a novel pistonconstruction which operates a double acting valve employed foralternately closing the pressure fluid inlet to the cylinder or floatchamber, and the pressure fluid outlet therefrom.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a novel double actingvalve for closing the pressure fluid inlet and outlet of the floatchamher, which will not become deformed by the use to which it issubjected.

Still another object of my invention is the provision of a novel pumpingmechanism of the kind described, which is relatively simple, which isstrong, durable, not likely to get out of order and which is efiicientin its operation.

7 The novel features of my invention are hereinaiter fully described andclaimed.

' In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the preferredembodiment of my invention,

Fig. 1 is a view partly in vertical section, partly in side elevation,and partly broken away, of my improved pumping mechanism, showing thefloat lowered and having swung downwardly the controlling lever, theexhaust duct valve open, the pressure fluid inlet to the float chamberclosed by the double acting valve, and the pressure fluid outlet fromthe float chamber open.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the float as having swungthe lever to a position releasing the duct valve, the, latter beingclosed, the pressure fluid inlet to the float chamber open,

and the double acting valve closing the pressure fluid outlet from thefloat chamber.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the head of the float chamber, thecontrolling lever and part of its operating cable, other parts beingomitted.

Fig. 6 is a section-on the line i6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. '7 is a section on the line l--'l of Fig. l.

, Similar characters of reference designate similar parts in thedifferent views.

I designates a vertical hollow cylinder forming 10 the body of a floatchamber adapted to be disposed in a well containing a liquid, suchaswater or oil, which is to be pumped therefrom.

Fastened to thelower end of the cylinder I is a head 2, Figs. 4 and '7,having openings 3 therethrough serving as an inletfor the liquid in thewell. I

The head 2 has a central vertical hole therethrough, the upper end ofwhich is threaded and hasfitted in it the lower threaded end of I aguiding tube 4, having at its upper end a peripheral flange 5, whichlimits the upward movement of a soft rubber ring valve 6, which whenseated, as shown in Fig. 4, closes the inlet openings 3.

Fitted in the central hole in the head 2 is a vertical liquid dischargetube 1, which has an externally threaded end projecting below the head2, on which threaded end is fitted'a circular cap 8. I

A circular wire screen 9 encircles and is disposed between thehead 2 andthe cap 8, for exeluding coarse trash or foreign matter.

Fitted on the upper end of the cylinder I is an upper head l0 havingextending upwardly therethrough a discharge passage H, the lower end ofwhich is threaded and has fitted therein the upper threaded end of thetube'l. The latter just above the tube 4 has inlet openings l2. Anupwardly opening check valve I3 is mounted upon the upper end of thetube I, which has a valve seat M against which the valve 13 is adapt edto rest, to prevent back flow of liquid through the pipe or tube I.

Encircling and guided by the tube 1 is an annular float l5, which israised by liquid entering the cylinder I through the inletopenings 3,the liquid pressure from the outside forcing upwardly the check valve 6.v

The upper end of the passage H is threaded and has fitted in it thelower end ofa discharge pipe l6, which extends to. the ground surface.At one side of the passage I l, the upperend. of the head H) has adownwardly extending passage l I the upper end of which isthreadedandhas fitted in it a pipe l8, which extends to the ground surface.

Extending transversely into the head Ill, intersecting the passage I1 isa cylindrical hole i9, having a threaded outer end in which is fitted ascrew plug 29 having in its inner end a cylindrical hole 2|. The plug 20has a lateral hole 22 which registers with the passage l1 and with thehole 2|. The holes 2|, 22 and the passage |1 form a pressure fluidoutlet.

Communicating with the hole I9 is a passage 23 which communicates at itslower end with the upper part of the float chamber.

Extending into the side of the head |0, atthe side opposite the hole l9and alined therewith, is a cylindrical hole 24, which forms a cylinder,

threaded at its outer end, and having fitted therein a screw cap 25. Theopposite end of the aforesaid cylinder 24 has axially alined with thehole 2|, in the plug 20, a circular hole 26, which communicates with thehole l9 and the passage 23.

In the upper end of the head Ill is a threaded passage 21, in which isfitted the lower end of a pipe 28, which extends to the ground surfaceand through which is supplied fluid, as air. A hole 29 connects thepass-age 21 with the cylinder hole 24, for supplying the latter withpressure fluid.

A piston having a metal head 30 reciprocative in the cylinder 24, isprovided with a piston rod comprising a longitudinal rod 3| on which thepiston head 38 is fastened, and a sleeve 32 fitted on the rod 3| andextending through the hole 29. A nut 33 on the rod 3| holds the pistonhead 38 tightly against the adjacent end of the sleeve 32, the other endof which has bearing against it one end of a cylindrical soft rubbervalve 34, against the opposite end of which bears a guide nut 35slidably fitted in the hole 2|, and mounted on the adjacent threaded endof the rod 3|. A rigid metallic band 36 encircles and holds the rubbervalve 34 from being radially expanded by use.

The sleeve 32 has peripheral longitudinal grooves 31 which extendthrough the hole 26, and which permit pressure fluid passing from thecylinder 24 through the hole 26 into the passage 23 into the floatchamber When the piston and valve 34 are in the position shown in Fig.4, the valve will close the adjacent end of the hole 2|. When the pistonis moved to the left to the position shown in Fig. 1, the valve34 willclose the hole 26.

A duct has one end communicating with the cylinder 24, and it extendstherefrom downwardly to a chamber 38, forming a part of the duct, Figs.1, 3 and 4. The duct portion connecting the cylinder 24 with the chamber38 is designated by 39. A passage 40, another portion of said duct,communicates with the upper end of the chamber 38, and at its upper end,the passage 40 communicates With a circular groove 4|, Figs. 1, 4 and 5,which encircles the cylinder hole 24 at its outer end, and whichiscovered and closed by the screw cap 25. A passage 42, forming acontinuation of the duct, has one end communicating with the circularpassage or groove 4|, which is also a part of said duct, the other endof the passage 42 communicating with the passage |1.

There is thus formed acontinuous duct comprising the passage 39, chamber38, passage 4!], circular groove or passage 4|, and passage 42, throughwhich pressure fluid can pass fromthe cylinder hole 24 into the chamber38, and thence into the outlet for exhaust pressure fluid-the passageI1.

For closing the passage 40, there is provided in the chamber 38 a valve43 having fixed in its head a ball 44 adapted to be seated in the lowerend of the passage 48. The valve has a stem 45, which extends downwardlyinto a lateral recess 46 provided in a horizontal cylindrical rock shaftportion 41 of a lever having a lateral arm 48 fastened to an axial stem49, of reduced diameter, of the rock shaft 41.

A coil spring 59, resting on the rock shaft 41, encircles the valve stem45 and normally forces the valve to the closed position, shown in Figs.3 and 4.

On the stem 49 of reduced diameter is fitted an externally threadedsleeve 5|, Figs. 3 and 6, which is fitted in the threaded outer end of atransverse cylindrical hole 52, in the bearing portion 53 of the headI9, which transverse hole intersects the chamber 38 and communicateswith the float chamber The enlarged portion of the rock shaft 41 isoscillatively and slidably fitted in said hole 52 and bears at its rightend, as viewed in Fig. 3, tightly against the inner end of the sleeve5|, against which it is firmly held by a coil spring 54, which bearsagainst the bearing portion 53 at the inner end of the hole 52, andagainst a pointed pin 55, slidably fitted in the hole 52, and having itspointed end fitted in a conical axial recess in the adjacent inner endof the rock shaft 41. This pressing assembly, just described, exerts africtional resistance holding the lever from being accidentally movedfrom the position to which it may be swung. The lever arm 48 is in thefloat chamber in the path of the float l5, and is rigidly fixed on thestem 49 which extends into the float chamber.

The coil spring 54, in addition to exerting frictional resistance to theoscillation of the rock shaft 41, also holds the rock shaft yieldinglyand tightly against the sleeve 5|, thus preventing leakage from thevalve chamber 38 into the float chamber The snug fitting of the rockshaft 41 in the hole 52 also aids in preventing such leakage of pressurefluid from the chamber 38 into the float chamber.

When the lever arm 48 is swung downwardly, as shown in Fig. 1, the rockshaft portion 41 will engage and tilt the valve stem 45 laterally, thusopening the valve, as shown in Fig. 1, thereby permitting pressure fluidfrom the cylinder hole 24 to pass through the duct into the outletpassage I1. The lever arm 48 has attached to it the upper end of aflexible line, as a cable 56, the other end of which is attached to ahook 51 mounted on and attached to the top of the float 5. When thefloat |5 lowers, as liquid is forced out of the float chamber I, as willafterwards be explained, the cable 56, when the float has lowered apredetermined distance, will pull the lever arm 48 downwardly, as shownin Fig. 1.

To permit insertion and removal of the valve 43 and spring 50, the lowerside of the bearing 53 has a threaded hole in which is removably fitteda screw plug 58.

Assuming that the parts are in the positions shown in Fig. 1, with thefloat |5 lowered, the valve 43 open, and the double acting valve 34closing the hole 25, the check valve l3, being closed and the valve 6open.

The liquid entering the float chamber I will lift the float 5, which,when it reaches the lever arm 48, will swing the arm upwardly, thus rocking the shaft 41 from the position-shown in Fig. 1, to'the positionshown in Figs. 3 and 4, upon which, the spring 50 will force the valve43 closed.

Pressure fluid entering the cylinder bore 24 through the hole 29 willleak past the periphery of the metal piston head 39, which is slightlysmaller in diameter than the inner diameter of the cylinder 24, and intothe passage 39, and then into the chamber 38. As the valve 43 is nowclosed, pressure of fluid will accumulate in the left end of thecylinder bore 24. The end of the piston which is next to the passage 39is of greater area exposed to fluid pressure, than is the other side ofthe piston head 30, so that, when the pressure at the left of the pistonhead 30, as viewed in Fig. 1, is greater than at the opposite side, thepiston will be forced to the left, thus moving the valve 34 to open thehole 26 and close the adjacent end of the hole 2!, and thus closing thefluid pressure outlet of the float chamber.

Pressure fluid will now pass from the cylinder 24 through the hole 26,the passages l9 and Z3, and will enter the float chamber, and will forcethe liquid, which has flowed into the latter through the openings 3,into the tube I through the openings l2. The valve '5 will now close,and the valve l3 open, and the liquid will pass from the float chamberthrough the tube 1, passage II, and discharge pipe 16.

As the liquid lowers in the float chamber, the float 15 will lower, andwhen it has lowered a predetermined distance, to a point a. shortdistance above the guiding tube 4, the cable 56 will become taut, andwill pull downwardly the lever arm 48, as shown in Fig. 1, thus causingthe rock shaft 41 to tilt the valve stem 46 and again open the valve 43.The pressure at the left of the piston head 36 will now reduce throughthe escape.

of the fluid through the duct to the fluid outlet passage l1, and thepiston will move to the left, as viewed in Fig. 1 closing the hole 26,and completing a cycle in the operation of the mechanism.

By having the metal piston head as, of less diameter than the diameterof the cylinder hole, or bore, 24, a by-pass is produced around theperiphery of the piston head, for the leakage of pressure fluid, tolater move the piston to the position, shown in Fig. 4, when the valve43 has been closed. The sliding of the piston head in the cylinder bore24, will keep this by-pass open at all times, due to the rubbing of thepiston head in its cylinder.

By employing a frictional resistance, actuated by a yielding resilientpressure. exerted against the lever rock shaft, and its pressure againstthe adjustable threaded sleeve 5!, due to the spring 54, the lever arm48 is reliably held from accidental displacement from theposition towhich it is operatively moved.

Modifications of my invention, within the scope of the appended claims,may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a pumping mechanism, the combination with a float chamber having avalved liquid inlet, a liquid outlet, a pressure fluid inlet and apressure fluid outlet, a lever havinga rock shaft and a lateral armfixed thereon, means, including pressure fluid operated means, andcontrolled by said rock shaft, which, when said arm is swung in onedirection, opens said fluid inlet and closes said fluid outlet, andwhich, when said arm is swung in the opposite direction, closes saidfluid inlet and opens said fluid outlet, and

afloat in said chamber which, in rising, engages and swings said arm insaid one direction, of "a vpull line permanently attached to said armand with a float chamber having a valved liquid inlet, a liquid outlet,a pressure fluid inlet and a pressure fluid outlet, a lever, means,including pressure fluid operated means, and controlled by said leverwhich, when said lever is swung in one direction, opens said fluid inletand closes said fluid outlet, and which, when said lever is swung in theopposite direction, closes said fluid inlet and opens said fluid outlet,and a float in said chamber which, in rising, engages and swings saidlever in said one direction, of a flexible cable permanently attached tosaid lever and said float, which cable has a length such that, when saidfloat descends a predetermined distance, said cable pulls said lever insaid opposite direction.

3. In a pumping mechanism of the kinddescribed, the combination with afloat chamber having a liquid inlet means and a liquid outlet means, andhaving at its upper end a head provided with acylinder, a pressure fluidsupply opening communicating with said cylinder, 9. pressure fluidoutlet, a duct communicating with said cylinder and with said fluidoutlet, a passage communicating with said chamber and with said fluidoutlet, and a hole extending through one end of said cylinderand'communicating with said fluid opening and with said passage, a valvefor closing said duct, a spring exerting a constant pressure normallyholding said valve closed, a lever which when swung in one directionengages and opens said valve, a float in said chamber which on risingswings said lever in the opposite direction in which movement said leverreleases said valve and permits said valve to be closed by said spring,means by which, when said float lowers, said lever will be swung in saidfirst direction, and a second valve in said passage adapted toalternately close said hole and the intake end of said fluid outlet, ofa piston having a head slidably reciprocative in said cylinder betweensaid opening and said duct and spaced from said cylinder suiflciently topermit a slight leakage of pressure fluid past said piston head, saidpiston head at its end next adjacent to said duct being of greater areathan at its opposite end, said piston having a piston rod extendingthrough and reciprocative in but not closing said hole and carrying saidsecond valve, whereby when said piston is reciprocated it will move saidsecond valve to alternately close said hole and said fluid outlet.

4, In a pumping mechanism, in combination, a float chamber having aliquid inlet means and a liquid outlet means, and having at its upperend a head having a pressure fluid inlet, a pressure fluid outletcommunicating with said float chamber, and a duct including a valvechamber and communicating with said fluid inlet and said fluid outlet,said head having a cylindrical hole intersecting said valve chamber andclosed at one,

of said hole, a valve in said valve chamber movable to and from aposition closing said duct, a spring engaging and normally closing saidvalve,

a lever having a cylindrical rock shaft oscillatively and slidablyfitted in said hole and having an axial stem at one end extendingthrough said sleeve into said chamber, said lever having a lateral armfixed to said stem in said float chamber, said end of said rock shaftseating against the inner end of said sleeve and sealing said hole toprevent fluid passing from said valve chamber into said float chamberthrough said sleeve, said rock shaft engaging and moving said valve tothe open position when said arm is swung in one direction, and releasingsaid valve to permit said valve to close when said arm is swung in theother direction, means including a second spring engaging and constantlyforcing said rock shaft against said sleeve,a float in said floatchamber which on rising to a predetermined point engages and swings saidarm in said other direction, a flexible line permanently attached tosaid arm and to said float and of such length that when said floatlowers to a predetermined point ti htens and pulls said arm in said onedirection, and means, including pressure fluid operated means, by which,when said first named valve alternately closes and opens, communicationbetween said float chamber and said fluid inlet, and between said floatchamber and said fluid outlet will be respectively opened and closed.

CLYDE O. THOMAS.

